DeLAND, Fla. – UPDATE: DeLand police said Friday that the man they arrested in connection with an attack outside a barbershop actually had an alibi and was not involved in the crime. This story has been updated to reflect that development.
A man believed to be responsible for attacking and beating a 43-year-old man with physical disabilities was taken into custody Friday morning but DeLand police said hours later that they arrested the wrong person.
The attack happened around 5:15 p.m. Sunday outside 1 First Class Barber Shop, at 120 E. New York Ave.
The victim called police about 40 minutes after the attack, saying two men beat him up and stole his cash and car keys, authorities said.
DeLand police said surveillance video from a nearby business shows a man in a white T-shirt punching the victim several times. A second assailant approached the victim and rummaged through the man’s pockets, police said.
The culprits then ran south through a parking lot, according to police.
The victim, who suffered a broken nose and two black eyes, was admitted to AdventHealth DeLand and was later released, police said.
A warrant shows police identified Richard Sharpe, 21, of Daytona Beach as one of the two men in the video. Sharpe was booked into the Volusia County Jail Friday and was facing charges of robbery with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery and attempted burglary while armed.
DeLand police said Friday afternoon that once Sharpe was taken into custody, they realized he had an alibi and couldn’t have been involved in the attack even though the victim believed he was responsible. Sharpe will be released from jail.
Volusia County Jail records show Sharp has been arrested 10 times since 2017. He was most recently arrested on Nov. 23 for trespassing. His previous arrests have included grand theft, trespassing and other non-violent charges.
One of the assailants was wearing a white T-shirt and dark pants. The other was wearing a dark hoodie and gray sweatpants. Officers are asking for the public’s help identifying the men in the video.
First Class Barber Shop is offering a $500 reward for information leading to an arrest.
Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call DeLand police at 386-626-7422.